Delacorte Press Books
for Young Readers is pleased to announce
The Twenty-Sixth
Annual
Delacorte Press Contest
for a First Young Adult Novel
The prize of a book contract (on the publisher’s
standard form) covering world rights for a
hardcover and a paperback edition, including
an advance
and royalties, will be awarded annually to
encourage the writing
of contemporary young adult fiction. The award
consists of $1,500 in cash and a $7,500 advance
against
royalties.
All federal, state, and local taxes,
if any,
are
the winner’s sole responsibility.
Prizes are not transferrable and cannot be
assigned. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
TO ENTER OR WIN.
ELIGIBILITY
1. The contest is open to U.S. and Canadian
writers who have not previously published a
young adult novel. Employees of Random House,
Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and
members of their families and households are
not eligible.
2. Foreign-language manuscripts and translations
are not eligible.
3. Manuscripts submitted to a previous Delacorte
Press contest are not eligible.
FORMAT FOR SUBMISSIONS
1. Submissions should consist of a book-length
manuscript with a contemporary setting that
will be suitable for readers ages 12 to 18.
2. Manuscripts should be no shorter than 100 typewritten pages and no longer than 224 typewritten
pages. Include a brief plot summary with your
covering letter.
3. Each manuscript should have a cover page
listing the title of the novel; the author’s
name, address, and telephone number.
4. Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced
on 8-1/2" x 11" good quality white
paper, and pages should be numbered consecutively.
The type should be at least 10 point. The author
should retain a copy of any manuscript submitted.
5. Photocopies are acceptable if readily legible
and printed on good quality white (not gray)
paper.
6. Do not submit manuscripts in boxes.
A padded envelope will do. Please do not enclose
checks for postage. The publisher is not responsible
for late, lost, misdelivered, or misplaced submissions.
7. Please enclose a business-size stamped,
self-addressed envelope for notification
only.
Please do not enclose checks for postage. Due
to new postal
regulations, the publisher cannot return
any manuscripts. All submissions will be recycled
by Random
House after they are read.
MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS
1. Manuscripts sent to Delacorte Press
may not be submitted to other publishers or
literary agents
while under consideration for the prize.
2. Authors may not submit more than two manuscripts
to the Delacorte Press competition; each must
meet all eligibility requirements.
DATES FOR SUBMISSION
1. Manuscripts must be postmarked after October
1, 2008, but no later than December 31,
2008.
2. Send manuscripts to:
Delacorte Press Contest
Random House, Inc.
1745 Broadway, 9th Floor
New York, New York 10019
JUDGING
1. Entries will be judged by the editors of
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers.
The prize will be awarded on the basis of
originality,
style,
and creativity.
2. The judges reserve the right not to award
a prize.
3. The decision of the judges will be final.
4. The editors of Delacorte Press Books for
Young Readers will not be able to offer critiques
of manuscripts or enter into correspondence
about the manuscripts
other than with the winning author.
5. Writers will be notified between January
and April as submissions are evaluated by the
editors. Final contest results will be announced
on
our Web site on or around April 30, 2009.
Winners of the Delacorte Press Prize
for a First Young Adult Novel
PAST HIGHLIGHTS
First Place Recipients
Cal Cameron by Day, Spider-Man by Night
by A. E. Cannon
Squashed by Joan Bauer
Under the Mermaid Angel by Martha Moore
Honor Book Recipients
The Romantic Obsessions and Humiliatons
of Annie Sehlmeier by Louise Plummer
Children of the River by Linda Crew
Best Friends Tell the Best Lies by
Carol Dines
1996
First Place
Breaking Boxes by A. M. Jenkins
Honor Book
For Mike by Shelley
Sykes |
2003
First Place
Wings by Julie Gonzalez |
1997
First Place
A Door Near
Here by Heather G. Quarles
Honor Book
Hate You by Graham
McNamee
|
2004
No prizewinner
2005
First Place
Notes on a Near-Life Experience by
Olivia Birdsall |
1998
No Prizewinner
|
2006
First Place
Skin Deep by E.M. Crane |
1999
First Place
Night Flying by Rita Murphy |
2007
No prizewinner |
2000
No prizewinner
|
2008
No prizewinner |
2001
First Place
Cuba Fifteen by Nancy Osa
Honor Book
Bringing Up the Bones by Lara
M. Zeises |
|
2002
First Place
Ostrich Eye by Beth Cooley
|
|
|